1997 Geo Metro

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE. THE SHIFT LEVER APPEARS TO BE IN "PARK," BUT CAN EASILY BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITHOUT THE USE OF THE KEY, TRANSAXLE LEVER DETENT BUTTON, OR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE.

Risk. IF THE SHIFT LEVER WERE TO COME OUT OF "PARK" WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A NON-LEVEL SURFACE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, OWNERS ARE ADVISED WHEN SHIFTING TO "PARK," ALWAYS APPLY THE PARK BRAKE BEFORE RELEASING THE SERVICE BRAKE.

THE CONSUMER SLOWED VEHICLE DOWN FROM 65 MPH AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC THEN LOOSENED O RINGS TO STOP THE NOISE AND STALLING, BUT THE NOISE AND THE STALLING CONTINUED. THE STALLING OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE HAD TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP FOR ANY REASON. *AK *SC

ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE OIL SWITCH WAS BAD, AND THE PCV VALVE WAS BAD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHEED THE 25 MPH MARK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART. *TC

CONSUMER WAS IN A COMMERCIAL PARKING LOT OWNER AND WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. CONSUMER EVENTUALLY GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK

I HELPED MY MOTHER IN LAW PURCHASE A NEW 1997 GEO METRO FROM A DEALER IN 1997. I AM DISSATIFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PAINT JOB. THE PAINT IS WEARING OFF THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE AND APPEARS TO ALSO BE HAPPENING ON THE HOOD. IN ADDITION THE CHROME PAINT HAS WORN OFF THE WHEEL COVERS LAST YEAR. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR, WASHING , WAXING ETC AS WE HAVE ALL OUR OTHER VEHICLES SO I DON'T BELIEVE IMPROPER MAINTENACE IS THE CAUSE. IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL HELP AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. *AK

STALLING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS.*AK

CIGARETTE LIGHTER WHEN PRESSED IN WILL HURL OUTWARD INTO THE CAR WHEN IT IS HOT. IT HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY UNLESS YOU HOLD ONTO THE LIGHTER. THE CAR HAS HAD THIS DEFECT SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT USED AT A DEALERSHIP, IN 2/ 1999 THE INCIDENT DATE WAS CHOSEN AT RANDOM. *JB

FRONT DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB

THE CONSUMER NOTICED A WHEEL HAD COME OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF A TRACTOR TRAILER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEEL SUBSEQUENTLY HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. *JB

BROUGHT CAR JULY 11, 2000-DEC. 20,2000-TRANSMISSION REPLACED-AUG. 23, 2002 THROUGH SEPT. 30, 2002-SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON CRANK SENSOR SEAL O-RING REPLACED, BURNING OIL, HAS A SHAKE TO IT WHEN DRIVING AND SLOWING DOWN, AND ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. MR

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT STARTED TO ROLL BACK WITH THE VEHICLE BEING TURNED OFF, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK AND HIT A FENCE, WHICH HIT THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT. THE VEHICLE WENT UNDER THE FENCE AND THE FENCE SCRATCHED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. IT DAMAGED THE FRONT BUMPER, FRONT LIGHTS, HOOD, FENDER, VENT SCREEN, LEFT WIPER ARM, RIGHT TO LEFT WIPERS, LIFT GATE, REAR LIGHTS, AND POSSIBLE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE IS 3026.15. *SCC

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED, VEHICLE ROLLED, JUMPED A PARKING BLOCK, UPROOTED A FENCE, THE TOP OF THE FENCE HIT THE WINDHSIELD CAUSING IT TO CRACK, THE FENCE WENT UP OVER THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT, TO THE BACK. I HAVE THE ESTIMATE FROM THE BODY SHOP THAT IT WAS TAKEN TO. I ALSO HAVE WITNESSES THAT SAW THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED.

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A DEER, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK *JB

AT 35-40MPH AND WITH NO WARNING, ENGINE STALLED, COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CONNECTOR AT THE FUEL INJECTOR, THE CONNECTORS CONTACT HAD SLIGHTLY OPENED, CONSUMER CLOSED SOME OF THE CONTACTS AND NOW THE ENGINE RUNS WELL. *SLC

DRIVER'S SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASE, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD THERE IS NO REMEDY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 70MPH AND BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR BURNS, BUT NO INJURIES FROM AIRBAGS. CONSUMER WILL ADD VIN TO FORM.

WHEN PULLING OUT OR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS ENGINE WILL STALL. THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS DURING WARM TO HOT WEATHER ON A FREQUENT BASIS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN ENOUGH, AND THAT GAS COULD HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED .*AK CONSUMER STATES THROTTLE AND DISTRIBUTION CAP WERE SPRAYED AND FUEL INJECTION CLEANER WAS USED FREQUENTLY, CONSUMER ALSO STATES A NEW AIR FILTER WAS PUT IN. *JB

AS CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING FIRESTONE (TUWSPS 15580R13) TIRES, CONSUMER NOTICED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD SPIKES OVER AN INCH LONG ALL AROUND THE INSIDE AND THE COLOR AROUND THE PERIMETER IS BROWN/RUST NOT BLACK. *JB

WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED TO UP & DOWN PROPERLY. INTERFERES WITH DOOR REGULATOR. DOOR WOULD JAM. WINDOW TILTS FORWARD. HAS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES. BEEN TO DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FIRST TIME. WARRANTY RAN OU. TOOK VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. EACH TIME REPAIRED PROBLEM WOULD REAPPEAR. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT COME DOWN.*AK

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOES NOT START. SOMETIMES GOES AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN COMES BACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER TUNED UP VEHICLE TO FIX PROBLEM. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD AGREED TO REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTION HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. *YH

WHEN PLACING VEHICLE IN PARK SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT STAY IN PARK POSITION. THIS COULD CAUSE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. ALSO, VEHICLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE OUT OF PARK POSITION. CONSUMER ALSO, RECALL 98V225001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98052 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK A DIAGNOSIS DETERMIND THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

AFTER THE LEVER IS RELEASED FROM PARK AND PUT INTO REVERSE TO BACKUP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAN EASILY SLIDE INTO NEUTRAL AND SLIDE INTO DRIVE WITHOUT EVER HAVING TO TOUCH THE BUTTON. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE. FRONT WHEEL BROKE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED THREE TIMES AND LANDED ON ROOF UPSIDE DOWN, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER AIR BAG FAILURES ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. THANK YOU. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS DIFFICULTY GOING UP. *SLC

CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP BROKE DOWN 10+TIMES IN TWO YEAR'S. EVERYTIME THEY SAY IT IS FIXED SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN'S I AM HANDYCAP AND ON OXYGEN I HAVE GOT STUCK OUT IN MY CAR AT LEAST THREE TIMES WAITING FOR HELP. THE REASON I BOUGHT THE METRO IS FOR SAFETY I HAVE HAD NOTING BUT TROUBLE. ALL MY LIFE MY FAMILY HAS WENT TO CHEVROLET BUT NOW I AM WONDERING WHY, I AM AFRAID TO GET OUT IN MY CAR ALONE BECAUSE FOR THE LAST TWO WEEK'S I HAVE HAD IT A TOTAL OF ONE NIGHT.

THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT MARK CHRISTOPHER CHEV. IN ONTARIO, CA IN THE BEGINNING AND NOW ALL BRAKE REPAIRS SINCE 8-31-98 HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH PEP BOYS IN RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA. NOBODY CAN SEEM TO TELL ME WHY THE BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT AS FAST AS THEY ARE (BESIDES LAYING THE BLAME ON EACH OTHER). I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW NOV. 1996 AND I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPAIRED 6 TIMES, GOING ON THE SEVENTH TIME ON AUGUST 19, 2000. THE LAST TWO HAVE BEEN SINCE AUGUST OF 1999 AND APRIL OF 2000. I PLACED A CALL TO MARK CHRISTOPHER TODAY AT 909-390-2900 TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THEY TOLD ME NO. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, THANK YOU.

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AXLE KEEPS FALLING OFF WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. GM HAS NOT PROVIDED HELP. *AK *ML

THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. YH

FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN FUEL TANK IS ONLY HALF TO LESS THAN HALF EMPTY. FRIGHTNIG WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES AND NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE FUEL TO GET TO THE NEXT GAS STATION. *AK

TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT JERKED OUT OF POSITION, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO FALL AGAINST STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER SUSTAINED FRACTURED RIBS AND A CONCUSSION DUE TO HER HEAD HITTING AGAINST FRONT GLASS. VEHICLE WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH, AND JUST ENTERING AN INTERSECTION FROM A RED STOP LIGHT WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK

CONTINUALLY WON'T START - DOESN'T GET GAS (IT IS NOT THE STARTER) TURNS OVER BUT NO GAS.*AK

SOMETIMES FAILS TO START FOR NO REASON.WILL STOP RUNNING EVEN DURING DRIVING.PROBLEM HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED AND CANNOT BE FOUND.UNDEPENDABLE AND UNSAFE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED BUT WAS NO HELP. POSSIBLY COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

OWNER'S MANUEL STATES IF FLASHING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STARTING, VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED VEHICLE , AND THERE'S NO MAIN FUSE OR RELAY IN FUSE PANELS. *AK

WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 5MPH BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS. BRAKE SYSTEM CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY ITSELF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BUMPER IS PEALING. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN REPAINTED, DEALER SAID IF CONSUMER HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM RICK HENDRICKS CHEVROLET SHE WOULDN'T WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR BUMPER REPAIRS. BUT, SINCE SHE BOUGHT IT SOME WHERE ELSE SHE WOULD TO HAVE TO PAY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, LIKE SOMETHING WAS DISCONNECTED, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTHE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE, LIKE SOMETHING WAS DISCONNECTED, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, DEALER HAD MADE REPAIRS TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN.

CAR CAUGHT FIRE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER MAKING A BACKFIRE NOISE. HAD MY CHILDREN BEEN IN THE CAR IN THEIR CAR SEATS, THEY WOULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. THE CAR BURNED SO FAST MY WIFE ONLY HAD TIME TO SLAM IT IN PARK AND JUMP OUT. SHE DID NOT EVEN HAVE TIME TO PULL IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT MELTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.

SEAT BACK COLLAPSED WHEN VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED VEHICLE AT A STOP LIGHT, CONSUMER RECIEVED SPAINES TO ANKLES, KNEES, WRIST, ELBOWS AND ALSO NECK AND BACK INJURIES. NLM

I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THE CAR, IN FACT I WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM PURCHASING THE CAR AND I HAVE. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AND SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BREAKING.

MY VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A BAD AIRCONDITIONER/HEATER SWITCH. I STARTED TO TURN ON MY AIRCONDITIONER AND IT MADE A SMALL POPPING LIKE SOUND AND WOULD NOT WORK. IT ONLY WORKS IF YOU HOLD THE SWITCH WITH YOUR HAND OR TURN IT ON FAN.

I STOPPED AT RED LIGHT WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR FOR ME TO GO RIGHT ON RED, IF POSSIBLE. PERSON BEHIND DID NOT STOP. REAR-ENDED ME @ APPROX 20-30MPH. MY DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED TO STAY UPRIGHT AS I HAD IT, BUT BROKE BACK TO A HALF RECLINING POSITION & COULD NOT BE PUT BACK IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. *AK

CAR WOULD NOT REACH SAFE STARTING SPEED.IT WOULD NOT ACHIVE ANY POWER EVEN WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS WAS A OPERATING HAZARD WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BE FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MAINTAINANCE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM I HAD A MAJOR TUNE UP DONE.THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER,THAT CAUSED THE CATALITIC COVERTOR TO FAIL. THEY ALSO AJUSTED THE TIMMING BELT.THIS REPAIR WAS COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARANTY.THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT WAS MY FAULT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR.SO I PAID FOR THE REPAIR $ 50.00 PLUS THE COST OF THE RENTAL FOR THREE DAYS.ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONING THEN I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED NO SPEED EVEN WITH MY FOOT FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL.THEN I STALLED IN TRAFFIC.ISHUT OFF MOTOR THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT FAILED.THEN I SHUT OFF A/C THEN TRIED TO START AGAIN IT STARTED.I TOOK IN MY CAR AGAIN THEY LOOKED AT IT FOR TWO DAYS SAID IT WAS THE TIMING AND THEY AJUSTED IT FOR FREE.THE CAR WORKED APROX TWO WEEKES AFTER THAT THEN THE SAME PROBEM HAPPENED AGAIN WITHOUT THE A/C ON IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET TO A SAFE STARTING SPEED.I WENT HOME WITH MY CAR AND TO SEE IF MY CAR WOULD STALL AGAIN I PUT ON THE A/C IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND WENT FOWARD ABOUT FIVE FEET,TAKING OF TO ABOUT 15MPH TOOK 10 TO 15 SECONDS THEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE WITH A/C ON AND IT MOVED BACK FROM GRAVITY EVEN WITH ME FLOO

WILL NOT CRANK EVERY TIME, BUT WILL TURN OVER. HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED.THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US IT'S SOMTHING ELSE EVERY TIME, AND THAT IT'S FIXED. IT WILL HESITATE AT TIMES LIKE IT'S OUT OF GAS, EVEN WHEN IT'S FULL. *AK

BALANCER BOLT ON THE ENGINE RUSTED/BROKE AND FELL INSIDE THE ENGINE, FIRST CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. *AK

VEHICLE JUST STOPS RUNING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING

WHILE PARKED AND LEFT IN GEAR CAR ROLLS EVEN ON SLIGHT INCLINE. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHAT GEAR CAR IS LEFT IN. IN THE REVERSE GEAR CAR MAKES SMALL JUMPS, HAVE TO MAKE SURE PARKING BRAKE IS SET EVEN IN FREEZING TEMPS. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AT THE 1000 MILE CHECKUP BUT WAS TOLD THEY HAD CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE GEARS NOT HOLDING AND WAS TOLD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I REALIZE YOU HAVE TO BE SAFE ON A HILL AND SET THE BRAKE BUT SEEMS THE GEARS SHOULD HOLD THE CAR ON APPROX. A 1-2% GRADE. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE GEO METRO.